Hate Mail

I'm not laughing. Really, I'm not. The fact the Phillies lost in the first round of the playoffs and couldn't win a single game isn't remotely funny. Not funny at all. Hehe. He. AHHHHHHH who am I kidding it's hilarious!

Hey knock knock? (who's there) THE PHILLIES GOT SWEPT OUT OF THE FIRST ROUND ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! (credit to Martin Ruane "burnsiefresh" Burns for the joke) No, really though, what's funny about October 7, 2007?

The Phillies lost ahhhhhahahahahahah!

I've been over this before. It's funny when the Phillies lose because it happens so often, yet their fans, their entire team attitude, is so incredibly cocky. So much for class, so much for humility. I got this email on Monday afternoon from an address I didn't recognize:

Matt,

Your blog has been a great source of entertainment over the past few weeks. I came accross your site by accident but it did not dissapoint. At least the better team won in the end. So which was better , the quick and painlfull death in the 2006 NLCS or the slow prolonged agonizing variety of 2007 ?

Attached to the email were four pictures of the Phillies celebrating their division title. I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've gotten a response via my email address being posted at the bottom of Bleeding Blue and Orange's main page, but it shed some interesting light nonetheless on what a division title apparently meant to the Phillies.

How much do these fans actually care about their team? Obviously, it hurts for them when they lose and the fans of Philadelphia (who aren't busy preparing for the next Eagles game) rejoice when they win. But are Phillies fans happy when their team wins a division only because it means the Mets didn't? I got this email on Tuesday:

Hi Matt,

I couldn't help but chuckle while reading your June 30th blog titled "Twin Killing".

Once again a "maddening pathetic losing stretch" by your "laughably pathetic" Metropolitans has reasserted Jimmy Rollins' pre-season claim that the Fightin' Phillies are the team to beat in the NL East. Have a wonderful off season you cocky little s***face.

Ever so smugly,
Your younger Philadelphia Brother,
"The Muffinman"

Nice to hear from ya, Muffinman. Glad you're so happy about the Mets losing.

My responses to both emails were similar; they involved references to the Phillies' own end-of-year collapses the past 4 years and, by extension, how I now know how it must feel to root for the Phillies. It's good, it's nice and very instructive to be able to put yourself in your enemies' shoes. I pointed out the Phillies 1 world championship in 125 years, while the Mets, futility-riddled history of their own, have at least won 2 in 45. I told both anonymous and "Muffinman" that possibly the '07 Phillies could bring the city of Philadelphia it's first world championship since Rocky Balboa's heavyweight title against Clubber Lang.

But I guess it's too late for you, Philly. Postseason ended before it even began. Was this even worth it for you guys? Good to see you guys were able to take advantage of your invitation into the playoffs as a result of the worst collapse in baseball history.

When the Mets broke the Braves' string of 14 consecutive division titles last year, we didn't rub it in anyone's face. We were happy for ourselves, and we celebrated. But we didn't feel the need to shove it down anyone else's throat. Apparently they do things a little differently down in Philadelphia.

Regardless, it looks like the 2007 season for the 89-win division champion Philadelphia Phillies has come to an end. Nicely done, Jimmy Rollins and co. Congratulations, team to beat. You earned this.


See ya next year.

(Photos courtesy cache.boston.com, media.philly.com, hotstovenewyork.com)